[Diagnosis] How to look at OSCAR results

[JoeS01]

Just been diagnosed last week with Severe Apnea, so purchased a 2nd hand Resmed AirSense 10 AutoSet CPAP machine, and use OSCAR to read the data on the SD card.
I  was told by a Sleep Technician who supplied my new hose and facial mask that the AHI should be <5, and the Leaks <24. That's all the info I  was given.
OSCAR provides some 14 graphs. Can anyone please tell me the important graphs to examine, and what  I  should be looking for on each one?
Appreciate any and all help,
Kind regards,
Joe

[staceyburke]

Welcome to the board! As far as the charts I have a link in my signature at the bottom of this post on chart org. They are the most important and need to be in the screenshot you post. If any one wants or needs to see others they will ask you to post them.

When you do post do the daily post not the summary. Also remove the pie chart and calendar from the daily screenshot they take up room of info we need to see.

[OpalRose]

 

Of course, leaks and AHI are important.  An AHI under 5 is considered clinically treated by the medical profession, but most here like to see it lower.  

When we ask to see someone's OSCAR chart, the graphs we like to start with are: Events, Flow Rate, Pressure, Flow Limitations and Leak Rate.

The best place to start is to read through The Oscar Guide.  

http://www.apneaboard.com/wiki/index.php..._The_Guide

[JoeS01]

Thank you OpalRose for this introduction, will look at these charts.
thanks also for the link to the Oscar Guide, lots to see there.
Are the charts submitted just screen print jpegs?
Joe

[staceyburke]

You use the F12 key for the screenshot and attach with the button at the bottom of the post

[JoeS01]

Would anyone please care to analyse the results of my 2nd night on a CPAP machine?  At the end of the night my mouth was extremely dry.
The first night was a disaster, only wore the mask for 4 hours I am having a bit of trouble with the face mask, a bit too small, causing my lips to purse and I  think leak at the corners of the mouth.
My initial  study which led to the diagnosis of 'severe OSA >30" by the doctor showed an AHI of 68, ODI of 42, Snore 25
Appreciate your help,
regards,
Joe

[staceyburke]

You are having some positional apnea. You can see positional apnea where either H or Oa events are clustered together. There are not a huge amount but getting rid of as many as you can will lower your AHI.

Positional apnea can NOT be controlled by pressure changes. You have to find out what position you are getting into and cutting off your own airway. Have you changed your sleep position? Sleeping on your back? Using more (or new) pillows? These things can cause positional apnea by chin dropping to your sternum and cutting your airway. Think of it of a kinked hose – nothing can get through – you have to unkink the hose…

IF you can’t make a simple change like changing to a flatter pillow helps then you will need a collar. I have a link to collars in my signature at the bottom of the page. It shows people who are not wearing a collar and the SAME person wearing a collar. There is a huge difference between the two.

[JoeS01]

thanks for your help Stacey, very much appreciated
Joe

[JoeS01]

Fortunately I  have a couple of these cervical collars from 30 years ago. I use them for neck support on long distance drives
Kind regards,
Joe

[JoeS01]

Good morning, can anyone please advise the cause and the significance of the single lines in the Flow Rate graph? They are quite numerous, ranging in value +_100
Kind regards from the hot dry tropics
Joe